"I'm delighted with my two goals. I want to go far in the FA Youth Cup this season." - Coventry City midfielder James Maddison

27 November 2014

Tom Bloomfield

'Madders' celebrated his first professional contract by scoring twice in City's 4-3 win against Rochdale in the FA Youth Cup last night, and wants to make up for lost time in the competition…

Coventry City midfielder James Maddison expressed his delight at the Sky Blues' win against Rochdale in the FA Youth Cup last night, and believes the teams performance was one of the best this season.

Goals from George Thomas, Kyle Spence and two from Maddison himself ensured that the young Sky Blues will now face Bournemouth at the Goldsands Satdium in the third round, and the 17-year old said that the focus will now begin on facing the Cherries next month.

"Personally, I'm delighted with my two goals." He said. "But all that matters in cup football is winning, and we did that.

"We dominated them first half but ended up going one nil down. But that's what can happen in the cup. Fortunately our quality shone through and we ended up playing some really good stuff.

"Credit to them because they kept fighting to the end but we got the deserved win. I'd say that's one of our best performances this season, we were creating chances and could have scored even more.

"The focus is now on Bournemouth. It'll be a tough game, but we have enough quality players to get a result over there."

Maddison played alongside Ben Stevenson in the middle of the park, and the two impressed through the match. He believes that the 17-year old academy prospect can go all the way to the first team, after earning plaudits already this season from Under-18's coach Jason Farndon.

He continued: "Ben is a top player. We are always on the same wavelength so it's great fun to play with him. Hopefully he can now push on and get a pro contract at the end of the season, because he deserves it.

"Me and him can hopefully do well in this competition. I missed the FA Youth Cup last season due to injury, so I want to make up for it.

"But to be honest I'm not worried about what team, whether it is the Under 18's, 21's or the first team. I just want to play football for this club."